Monday, April 09, 2007
The Big Rudy Question
Rudy Giuliani may be leading the Republican presidential field in the polls now, but most people seem to think it's a matter of time before the pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-gay rights New Yorker either fades away or blows up.
That may prove to be the case, I would not be so quick to count Rudy out. To see why, check out this column I wrote for Sunday's New York Post.
That may prove to be the case, I would not be so quick to count Rudy out. To see why, check out this column I wrote for Sunday's New York Post.
Friday, April 06, 2007
The Real Meaning of Obama's Money
Obama's spectacular first-quarter fundraising performance has clearly shaken the Clinton camp, but it may not just be for the obvious reason.
According to a well-connected Democratic operative, Team Hillary is less threatened by Obama than by the possible entry of Al Gore into the race.
That's the real reason why the putative frontrunner's strategy has been geared toward bulldozing the field early on -- to scare Gore off.
And that's why, under this theory, Obama's early money might is so problematic for Hillary. The more strength Obama shows, the weaker she looks. And the muddier the race gets, the more inviting it is to Gore.
(Cross-posted at Political Insider. . .)
According to a well-connected Democratic operative, Team Hillary is less threatened by Obama than by the possible entry of Al Gore into the race.
That's the real reason why the putative frontrunner's strategy has been geared toward bulldozing the field early on -- to scare Gore off.
And that's why, under this theory, Obama's early money might is so problematic for Hillary. The more strength Obama shows, the weaker she looks. And the muddier the race gets, the more inviting it is to Gore.
(Cross-posted at Political Insider. . .)
Thursday, April 05, 2007
The Accidental Strategist
My latest column for The Politico, "The Accidental Strategist," looks at how Bush strategist Matthew Dowd's break with the President he helped elect twice could potentially impact the Republican race for 2008.
At a minimum, Dowd has unwittingly done the GOP an enormous favor by calling out the elephant of all elephants in the room and potentially opening up a frank intra-party discussion about Bush’s manifold failures -- not just as a President but also as a conservative -- and his toxicity with swing voters.
But it may turn out that Dowd's unintended influence will go deeper than that. More than just setting the stage for a long-overdue conversation, Dowd’s denunciation has created an opportunity and a strategy for a much-anticipated candidate to change the course of the 2008 nomination race.
Now, not long after The Politico accepted this piece, a friend sent me a press release from the Romney campaign announcing a new TV ad called "I Like Vetoes" -- a thinly-veiled hit on Bush for not standing up to the big spending Republican Congress. Could this be a sign of things to come?
At a minimum, Dowd has unwittingly done the GOP an enormous favor by calling out the elephant of all elephants in the room and potentially opening up a frank intra-party discussion about Bush’s manifold failures -- not just as a President but also as a conservative -- and his toxicity with swing voters.
But it may turn out that Dowd's unintended influence will go deeper than that. More than just setting the stage for a long-overdue conversation, Dowd’s denunciation has created an opportunity and a strategy for a much-anticipated candidate to change the course of the 2008 nomination race.
Now, not long after The Politico accepted this piece, a friend sent me a press release from the Romney campaign announcing a new TV ad called "I Like Vetoes" -- a thinly-veiled hit on Bush for not standing up to the big spending Republican Congress. Could this be a sign of things to come?
